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Year: 1981 (54th) Academy Awards
Category: Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium)
Film Title: On Golden Pond
Winner: Ernest Thompson
Presenter: Jerzy Kosinski
Date & Venue: March 29, 1982; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
ERNEST THOMPSON:
I wrote "On Golden Pond" as a play four years ago for two reasons. First, I was out of work as an actor. And second, 'cause I believed that I had something to say and a burning need to say it. I want to thank a few people who believed in me as a writer before it became popular to do so—this won't take very long: Dick Coe, Steve Sharon*, Jim Prideaux, George Schaefer, and Patty McCormack who has given me so much. I want to thank my family for its support. I wish to hell my father was alive tonight.
I want to thank my producers, Jane Fonda, Bruce Gilbert, Martin Starger, and Lord Grade, for believing in this project and believing me when I said I thought I could write a screenplay. I want to thank my director Mark Rydell for being so damn difficult to satisfy. And I want to thank an incredible company of actors for making my words sound so intelligent and funny, from Franny Sternhagen and Tom Aldredge who first said them in New York on stage, to Kate Hepburn and dear Henry and Jane and all the actors who've spent time on Golden Pond. From my heart, thank you. And I want to thank the Academy for this great, great honor. I am so proud. And if you would all see me later I would love to suck face with you all. Thank you.
[*Name and spelling not confirmed.]
© Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
[Note: All winners are present except where noted; NOT all winners may have spoken.]
